Smaller Academic Journals May Have a Greater Impact on Policy Than You Think

A recent study has shed light on smaller academic journals that may not receive high impact factors due to limited citations by subsequent research within two years. These smaller journals, covering niche topics from the Global South and beyond, often have just as much of an impact on policy - particularly when it comes to protecting endangered species.

However, this realization is being made all too late for some journals that are already available only with subscription access or require institutional login credentials. To combat this barrier, several conservation journals around the world recently published an astonishing amount of research on topics such as wildlife trade and habitat preservation.

Among these publications were papers about the complex relationship between lions and African wild dogs, shedding light on how droughts reshape predator behavior. Another study focused on the devastating effects of microplastics on wildlife, with a staggering number of related studies in early December alone.

While some argue that media mentions are more crucial for policy impact than impacts from academic journals, others claim that certain publications have just as strong an effect - perhaps even more so.

Researchers worldwide can now access these groundbreaking papers at no cost thanks to the increasing availability of open-access research. Some studies have garnered thousands of downloads in recent weeks and deserve consideration.

The Revelator invites submissions for its next feature: researchers' favorite peer-reviewed papers of 2024. Any paper published this year is welcome, regardless of publication restrictions, with a deadline of December 10th to apply via tips@therevelator.org.